England boss Gareth Southgate sent the same starting XI as in the opening 6-2 win against Iran. Captain Harry Kane was also involved from the start despite recent ankle problems. In the USA, national coach Gregg Berhalter changed his team in one position compared to the 1-1 draw with Wales. Haji Wright started in the center of the attack instead of Josh Sargent. In the first few minutes of the game, mutual scanning was announced. Most of the action took place in midfield.
The first action in the penalty area was also a top chance for England. Jude Bellingham punched Bukayo Saka in front of US goalie Matt Turner’s goal. The Arsenal player played flat back at Kane, whose shot was then blocked by Walker Zimmerman (10′). England now put more pressure. Saka got the ball on the right side of the penalty area again, but his pass to Kane was deflected and cleared by a header from Sergino Dest (14′).
Chance for Harry Kane (10th)
Harry Kane with the first chance of the game. Walker Zimmerman threw himself into a shot from the England captain, preventing the favorites from 1-0.
US takes command
Weston McKennie initiated the USA’s first chance with a cross. The Juventus-Turin legionnaire found Wright in the center, whose header went wide of the goal on the right (17th). After that, a cross from Dest tore off something and England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford plucked the ball down in the six-yard box (20′). A little later, McKennie also got his first attempt at graduation. The 24-year-old accepted a sharp cross from Weah at the penalty spot, but the ball went clearly over the goal (26′).
McKennie on goal (26′)
Weston McKennie hammered a cross from the right side from around ten meters over the English goal.
The Americans were now in the game. England goalie Pickford had no problems with a deflected long-range shot from Yunus Musah (29′). However, Christian Pulisic’s sharp shot from the left side of the edge of the penalty area would have defeated Pickford. Luckily for the “Three Lions” the ball hit the crossbar (33′).
Pulisic hits the bar (33′)
After a strong move from Weston McKennie, the ball passes through Yunus Musah to Christian Pulisic, who shoots with his left and hits the crossbar.
The USA had two more top chances just before the break. First, Weah’s heel was ideal for Dest in the run, his shot was deflected by Harry Maguire into goal (41′). Then Pulisic headed just wide of the left corner after a Dest cross (43′). The last chances of the first half belonged to England again. First, Saka clearly failed with a finish in distress (45th). Then Mason Mount shot from half left flat into the left corner, but US goalie Turner was still there with one hand (45 + 1).
Shot by Mason Mount (45+1st)
Shortly before the break, Mason Mount takes another shot from the edge of the penalty area – Matt Turner in the American goal clears for a corner.
Berhalter-Elf continues to put pressure on
The Americans had a little more of the game until the break. Although England owed a lot, team boss Southgate sent his team out of the dressing room unchanged. There was no change in the USA either – and coach Berhalter’s team remained dangerous. After a counterattack initiated by Pulisic on the left, Weah hooked into the penalty area. His shot was blocked and landed right in front of McKennie’s feet, who fired sharply but clearly over the goal (48′).
The Americans continued to press. A deflected long-range Pulisic shot went wide of the goal on the left (58′). The resulting corner kick brought Pulisic up to the second post, where Zimmerman appeared completely unguarded. But Maguire was able to clear the Nashville player with a header (59th). The next corner presented a similar picture. Another high cross came into the penalty area, Zimmerman again started a sprint in the direction of the six-yard box, but this time he had a keeper (60′).
Change brings little change
England coach Southgate reacted and made a double swap. Jordan Henderson replaced Bellingham and Jack Grealish came on for Raheem Sterling (68′). Grealish took center stage as well. The Manchester City player dribbled his way into the penalty area against two opponents, but then got stuck on McKennie (70′). Again there was a phase of change. The USA brought in Brenden Aaronson for McKennie and Shaq Moore replaced Dest. For England, Southgate exchanged Marcus Rashford for Saka (78th each).
Despite commitment on both sides, chances in the closing stages were scarce. US goalie Turner safely plucked a cross from Henderson (82′), a flick from Rashford from the left into the far corner was too harmless for the American goalkeeper (87′). Previously, Giovanni Reyna came on for Weah and Sargent for Wright (83rd) at the USA.
Kane awards match point
In added time, the “Three Lions” got another dangerous free kick. Shaw crossed into the center from the left and found Kane there, whose sharp header clearly went wide of the left corner (90+3). That would have been the match point for England.
Kane header in stoppage time (90+3.)
In stoppage time, Harry Kane missed the match point. He heads the ball from a free kick, but puts it wide of the goal.
Comments on the game:
Harry Kane (England striker): “It certainly wasn’t our best performance. We actually had a lot of possession in good areas, we lacked a bit of callousness. We had to fight. They did well, you have to give them respect. But that’s the way it is at a World Cup, you can’t celebrate a resounding victory against every team. It’s definitely a good thing that we didn’t concede a goal. We’re in a good position in the group now.”
Gregg Berhalter (USA coach): “Both teams made life difficult for each other. Any time you keep a clean sheet at a World Cup, it’s a good thing. Our work is not done yet, we have to win on Tuesday. With five points we advance to the round of 16.”
FIFA World Cup 2022, Group B, Second Matchday
Freitag:
England – USA 0:0
Al-Chaur, Al Bayt Stadium, 68.463 spectators, SR Martinez (VEN)
England: Pickford – Trippier, Stones, Maguire, Shaw – Bellingham (69./Henderson), Rice – Saka (78./Rashford), Mount, Sterling (68./Grealish) – Kane
USA: Turner – Dest (78./Moore), Zimmerman, Ream, Robinson – McKennie (77./Aaronson), Adams, Musah – Weah (83./Reyna), Wright (83./Sargent), Pulisic
Yellow cards: none
The best: Kane or Pulisic, Zimmerman
